BioShock: The Collection

A near perfect port of a great game series that is worth playing, and paying for, all over again. Bioshock: The Collection is one of those things that should always have a place on a gamer’s shelf.

The BioShock trilogy is still three masterpieces that demand attention. While the first game hasn't aged particularly well, the sequel never got the recognition it deserved, and the third game is ultimately pretty disappointing, but they're still all worth another playthrough. The Switch port is masterfully done, smooth and crisp, and a great way to experience these games for the first time or revisit them.

Each game could easily go toe to toe with any modern-day juggernaut, but only the BioShocks can be played on the go.

It’s hard to believe it has actually been 13 years since the release of the original BioShock. The incredible first-person shooter series has been available on other platforms for some time, but 2K has finally brought the remastered collection to the Nintendo Switch, letting you take Rapture and Columbia with you on the go. There is no denying that BioShock was groundbreaking for its time with an eerie, Lovecraftian-esque atmosphere, fantastic setting, superb writing, and interesting combat. That is, however, over a decade ago, and the real question now is whether or not these games have aged ...

As a veteran returning to play through the three games of BioShock: The Collection is a pleasure, but it’s a bit disappointing to watch the updates and behind-the-scenes content to each entry gradually decline. The original BioShock receives the greatest overhaul and flourishes with new textures and lighting that bring it almost up to modern standards, and a Ken Levine retrospective, while BioShock Infinite is essentially the PC version Of course the ideas and gameplay presented and executed in all three are as memorable as they were when first released, and anyone who missed them a decade ago...

Despite its technical issues though, Bioshock: The Collection brings together two of the best games of last gen with one really good, though ultimately inferior sequel. As a whole, the trilogy not only shows what games can do, but on a meta level, illustrates art and commerce intersecting in interesting ways. We see the progression of a series through time, the creator, the publisher. We get one of the most deserving remasters of the generation so far, and three games that aren’t quite perfect, but I’ll be damned if they don’t all come close.

Republished on Wednesday 29th January 2020: We're bringing this review back from the archives following the announcement of February's PlayStation Plus lineup. The original text follows.

The reality is that the games haven't changed, but you might have.

Time has worn some holes in each games’ reputation, but these are still three of the most ambitious and daring action games of modern times.

The Bioshock games are undoubtedly some of the best games to ever come to the PlayStation 3/Xbox 360, and in this generation of remakes and remasters it was to be expected that they would surface to give a new generation of players a chance to experience the entire series. 2K brings us the series in the form of Bioshock: The Collection, which offers players the chance to venture back through the series history and enjoy all three major games in the franchise.

The Bioshock series, for me, was one of the defining franchises of the last console generation. With an absolutely sublime narrative, fun and intuitive gameplay, and a couple of large scoops of daddy issues; it has always come highly recommended. But how has it aged? Does it still hold up in an such a fast moving industry and is the remastering worth your money? I mean, well that last one is pretty easy: 3 stellar games, for around $70 is a pretty easy sell. But are they worth playing again?...